Entrance for beehives



Dec. 31,1935. J, D, SCHLEGL 2,025,908

ENTRANCE FOR lBEEHIVES Filed July 5, 1935 FIG. l. '9

7 16" 10 .t l 1 J 6' Y Uw/)Q ATTRNEYS.

Patented Dec. 31, 1935 uNiTsD STAT 8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in entrances for beehives.

Objects of the invention are to provide an improved entrance for beehives of simple, inexpensive construction, which will provide for the proper air conditioning of the interior of the beehive While preventing the admission of direct drafts and protecting the bees against undue cold in winter, and which will also be adapted to aiord an uninterrupted entry and free exit for the bees in summmer.

The invention contemplates an entrance member in the form of a block provided with a longitudinal channel located inwardly of its front and rear faces with passageways extending inwardly from its front and rear faces out of alignment with each other and communicating with the longitudinal channel, and also having a passageway extending through the same from its top to its bottom face rearwardly of the longitudinal channel and to one side of the passageway that extends inwardly from the rear face of the block, the block being adapted to lit within the entrance slot of a beehive with its bottom face resting upon the bottom board thereof for winter use, and in summer to be positioned with its rear face resting upon the bottom board of the beehive, and with its bottom face fitting against the front wall thereof, in the latter position the passageway that extends through the block from its top to its` bottom face providing an uninterrupted entry to the b eehive, and the longitudinal channel with the passageways that extend inwardly from the front. and rear faces of the block forming a free exit for the bees.

The invention, with other objects and advantages thereof, and the particular construction, combination and arrangements; of parts comprising the same, .will be understood from the hereinafter contained detailed description, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, forming part hereof and illustrating one embodiment ofthe invention.

In the drawing;

Figure l is a top plan view of a beehive entrance block constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a. rear elevation.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation.

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view.

Fig. 5 is alongitudinal section on the line 5 5 of Figure-1.

Fig. 6 is a transverse section on the line 6--6 of Figure l,A the block being illustrated applied to a beehive in winter position,

Fig. '7 is a transverse section of the block on the line 'I-'I of Figure 1, the block being shown applied to a beehive in winter position.

Fig. 8 is a transversesection of the block on the line 8--8 of Figure l.

Fig. 9 is a transverse section of the block shown applied to a beehive in summer position.

Fig, 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of a beehive, and also sho-wing in perspective the entrance block forwardly of and opposite the entrance slot of the beehive.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawing, it will of course be understood that minor changes and modifications may be made in the particular construction shown, and the invention may be embodied in other forms as will appeal to those skilled in the art and falling within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spiritv of the invention.

In the drawing is shown the lower part of a conventional form of beehive, I designates the bottom board, 2 and 3 the side walls, 4 thev front wall, and 5 the usual entrance slot.

Referring to a detailed description of the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing, the construction shown comprises an entrance member in the form of a block of rectangular shape in cross section, having top and bottom faces 6, l, front and rear sides 8, 9, and end walls Ill, I I. The block is provided with a longitudinally extending channel I2 located inwardly of its front and rear faces. vThe channel I 2 preferaby, as shown, extends inwardly from the under side of the block, said channel terminating short of the ends of the block, the end walls of the channel being shown curved. Extending inwardly frorn the front side of theblock to the longitudinal channel I2 is a row of openings or passageways I3, said openings or passagewaysV being located, as shown, inwardly of the top and bottom edges of the front face of the block, and substantially centrally of 'the ends thereof. The block has passageways I and I5 extending inwardly from its rear face near its ends to the ends of the longitudinal'channel I2,

said passageways being out of alignment with the row of openings or passageways I3 that extend inbottom face rearwardly of the longitudinal channel I2 and located between the passageways I ll and I5. The passageway I6 preferably, as shown, takes the form of a notch or slot extending across the rear face of the block.

Projecting upwardly from the top face 6 of the block along the forward part thereof is a strip portion I'I. The block is preferably constructed of wood and the strip portion il is preferably formed, as shown, as a separate part secured to the block by nails I8, or by other suitable means.

The entrance block is of a length and thickness to snugly fit within the entrance slot I5 of the beehive between the sides thereof and beneath the front board as illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 of the drawing, the bottom face of the block resting upon the bottom board of the beehive and the projecting strip portion Il of the block fitting against the front wall thereof, the entrance block extending the full length of the entrance slot. As will be understood, the projecting strip portion I1 serves as a stop for the entrance block in inserting the same in the entrance slot in the position referred to.

The arrangement of the block as just referred to is the position of the same for winter use. In this position the passageway I6 is at the interior of the beehive and air can only enter the entrance block from the outside through the openings or passageways I3. As will be understood, by this construction direct drafts will be excluded from the interior of the hive. Air currents entering the openings or passageways I3 will be arrested by the rear side wall of the longitudinal channel I2.

In the drawing, five openings or passageways I3 are shown extending inwardly from the front side of the block but the number of said openings or passageways may of course be varied, and I provide plugs I9 of cork or any other suitable material adapted to fit into and close said openings or passageways, so that some of the same may be closed to readily meet different weather conditions.

For summer use, the entrance block is arranged as shown in Figure 9 of the drawing, with its rear face resting on the bottom board of the beehive, and with its bottom face fitting against the front wall thereof. In this position, an uninterrupted entry for the bees is provided by the passageway I6, and a free exit is provided through the openings or passageways I3, the bees reaching said openings or passageways I3 by the passageways I4 and I5 and the channel I2.

It will be noted that the particular construction hereinbefore set forth, aiToIds an entrance member that provides for proper air conditioning of the interior of the beehive and prevents the admission of direct drafts to the interior of the beehive in winter, and which also affords an uninterrupted entry and free exit in summer, the single entrance member or block serving for both winter and summer. The construction is of a simple eicient nature that can be produced at low cost. and which is readily applicablefto the standard construction of beehive.

What I claim is:

1. An entrance/for beehives comprising a block having a longitudinally extending channel extending inwardly from the bottom face thereof and terminating short of the ends of the block, an opening extending inwardly from its front face substantially centrally of its ends to the longitudinal channel, and the block having a passageway near each end thereof extending inwardly from its rear face to the longitudinal channel.

2. An entrance for beehives comprising a block having a longitudinally extending channel extending inwardly from the bottom face thereof, a passageway extending inwardly from the front face of the block to said longitudinal channel, a passageway extending inwardly from the rear face of the block to said longitudinal channel located out of alinement with the passageway extending inwardly from the front face of the block, and said block having a notch in its rear face extending across the same rearwardly of the longitudinal channel and to one side of the passageway that extends inwardly from the rear face of the block.

3. An entrance for beehives comprising a block having a longitudinally extending channel extending inwardly from the bottom face thereof, a row of openings extending inwardly from its front face to the longitudinal channel, said row of openings being located substantially centrally of the ends of the block, a passageway extending inwardly from its rear side near each end thereof communicating with the longitudinal channel, and closures for some of the openings that extend inwardly from the front face of the block.

4. An entrance for beehives comprising a block having a longitudinally extending channel extending inwardly from the bottom face thereof, a passageway extending inwardly from the rear face of the block near each end thereof communicating with the longitudinal channel, a passageway extending inwardly from the front face of the block to the longitudinal channel at a point between the passageways that extend inwardly from the rear face of the block, and said block having a passageway extending through the same from its top to its bottom face rearwardly of the longitudinal channel and located between the passageways that extend inwardly from the rear face of the block.

5. An entrance for beehives comprising a block having a longitudinally extending channel extending inwardly from the bottom face thereof, a passageway extending inwardly from the rear face of the block near each end thereof communicating with the longitudinal channel, a passageway extending inwardly from the front face of the block to the longitudinal channel at a point between the passageways that extend inwardly from the rear face of the block, a passageway extending through the block from its top to its bottom face rearwardly of the longitudinal channel and located between the passageways that extend inwardly from the rear face of the block, and a strip portion projecting upwardly from the upper face of the block along the forward part thereof.

6. The combination with a beehive having an entrance slot across the lower part thereof, of an entrance comprising a block having a longitudinally extending channel extending inwardly from the bottom face thereof, a passageway extending inwardly from the rear face of the block near each end thereof communicating with the longitudinal channel, a passageway extending inwardly from the front face of the block to the longitudinal channel at a point between the passageways that extend inwardly from the rear face of the block, a passageway extending through the block from its top to its bottom face rearwardly of the longitudinal channel and located between the passageways that extend inwardly from the rear face of the block, said block being adapted to fit within the entrance slot of the beehive with its bottom face resting upon the bottom board thereof, the block also being adaped to be positioned with its rear face resting upon the bottom board of the beehive and its bottom face tting against the front wall thereof in front of the entrance slot.

7. The combination with a beehive having an entrance slot across the lower part thereof, of an entrance comprising a block having a longitudinally extending channel extending inwardly from the bottom face thereof, a passageway extending inwardly from the rear face of the block near each end thereof communicating with the longitudinal channel, a passageway extending inwardly from the front face of the block to the longitudinal channel at a point between the passageways that extend inwardly from the rear face of the block, a passageway extending through the block from its top to its bottom face rearwardly of the longitudinal channel and located between the passageways that extend inwardly from the rear face of the block, and a strip portion projecting upwardly from the upper face of the block along the forward part thereof, said block being adapted to iit within the entrance slot of the beehive with its bottom face resting on the bottom board thereof and with said projecting strip portion tting against the front wall of the beehive adjoining said entrance slot, and the block also being adapted to be positioned with its rear face resting on the bottom board of the beehive, and with its bottom face fitting against the front Wall thereof in front of the entrance slot.

8. An entrance for beehives comprising a block having a longitudinally extending channel therein located inwardly of its front and rear faces, a passageway extending inwardly from the front face of the block to said longitudinal channel, a passageway extending inwardly from the rear face of the block to said longitudinal channel, said passageway being located out of alignment with the passageway extending inwardly from the front face of the block, and said block having a passageway extending through the same from its top to its bottom face rearwardly of the longitudinal channel and to one side of the passageway that extends inwardly from the rear face of the block.

JAMES D. SCHLEGEL. 

